Signaling system for railways.



No. 768,783. PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904. G. W. WATKINS & W. G. BE'IHEL. SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1903.

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Patented August 30, 1904.

UNITED States PATENT @rrrce.

GEORGE WV. \VATKINS AND XVALTER CHI'XPMAN BETHEL, OF SEATTLE, VASHINGTON; SAID \VATKTNS ASSIGNOR TO JOHN T. BETHEL, OF

SEATTLE, YASHINGTON.

QIGNALENG: SYSTEM FOR RABLWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,783, dated August 30, 1904.

Application file September 8, 1903. serial 190. 172,415. (No model.)

To all 7071 0710 it may colt/207%.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE TV. \YA'riiiNs and l/VALTER CHAPMAN BETuEL, citizcnsof the j United States of America, and residents of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and State of ashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems for Railways, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in signaling systems for rail ways, and has special reference to a system for signaling and re cording at the despatchefis office the arrival of trains at a predetermined point and returnsignals for indicating to the trainmen the times at which the trains are to proceed.

Among numerous objects attained by this invention and readily understood from the following specification and accompanying drawings, included as a part thereof, is the production of a simplified and efficient electrical signaling and despatching system embodying. essential features of adaptability and utility, which reduces the cost of installing such a system on established electric lines and places the cars of the entire line under the'con trol of the despatcher; and in carrying out these objects our invention consists in certain novel constructions and arrangements of electrical and mechanical devices, as disclosed on the drawings set forth in this specification and succinctly pointed out in the appended claims.

\Vith reference to the drawings liled herewith and bearing like reference characters for corresponding parts throughout, Figure l is a view in perspective showing portions of an ordinary electric trolley-railway with a car on the track and shows diagrammatically theapparatus comprising one branch of the system installed. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of one of the relays employed in the system. Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the time-indicators employed. Fig. 4: is a transverse section of the frame of said indicator, taken longitudinally of the arbor. Fig. 5 is a plan or face view of the recorder. Fig. 6 is a side view of the upper portion of the same. Fig.

7 is a plan view of one of the circuit-breakers employed in the time-circuits; and Fig. 8 is a transverse section of same, showing the master-clock mechanism connected therewith.

This signaling system is disclosed in combination with the linecircuit of an ordinary electric street-railway of the trolley type, which includes tracks 9, composed of metallic rail-sections electrically connected in the ordinary manner, and overhead electric conductors or trolley-wires 10, connected with a dynamo or the like, adapted to supply electric energy for driving the rolling-stock. Embodied with the railway proper are ordinary trolley-cars, as 7, which are supplied with the usual motors and trolley-poles 15 of any desired or ordinary construction, which are electricall y connected with the motors and are adapted to take the electric current from the trolley-wires in the usual manner for driving the motors and are therefore included in what we call the line-circuit. This system, furthermore, includes normally open main signal circuits which are associated with the linecircuit and embody stationary circuit-terminals, as 11. which are mounted along the track at the point or points from which is is desired to signal, and circuitterminals 12, which are movably mounted on the rolling-stock for adjustment relatively to said stationary terminals and are electrically connected with the line-circuit. 1n the present embodiment the adjustable terminals 12 comprise annular contact-collars which are slidably mounted on horizontally-disposed arms 1A, secured to the trolley-poles 15 adjacent their outer extremities, so as to project therefrom at right angles to the line of travel, and these collars are conveniently insulated from the trolley-poles by means of sleeves 16, of insulating material, mounted on said arms and fitting in the collars, and flexible electrical conductors, as coils of wire 17, are connected with the collars and respective poles, so that the collars will be electrically connected with the linecircuit and can be adjusted along the arms 14. These collars are secured in adjusted positions by suitable set-screws or the like, and the stationary terminals 11 are placed side by side across the path of the collars and comprise contact-fingers composed of resilient metal, as sheet-brass, secured at one end to suitable overhead brackets 18, so that the opposite end portions will be free and lie at right angles to the line of travel and well across the paths.

of respective contact-collars. The stationary terminals or contact-fingers can be included in any desired multiplicity andare preferably connected by respective wires 19 with independent resistance contrivances of suitable construction to materially reduce the voltage of the line-current which passes from the trolley-poles through the contact-collars, so that the low-voltage signal devices can be employed in the main signal-circuit, and these resistance contrivances preferably consist of incandescent lamps 20, which are connected in independent series, one series for each finger, and are arranged on a suitable support, as a board 21, mounted in close proximity to the lingers. Leading to the despatchers office from the lamp series, Fig. 1, are independent conductors or wires 22, which are connected to the circuit-closing magnets 23 of respective relays, as 24, Fig. 2, arranged in the said oflice, and conductors or wires 25 lead from these magnets of the relay to respective magnets 26 of a multiple recorder 26, Figs. 5 and 6, and a common conductor or wire 27 leads from said magnets to the magnets of an electric alarm-bell 28, from whence a groundwire 29 leads to complete the signal-circuits. The relays 2 1 each include an armature 30, circuit-closing magnets 23, circuit-breaking magnets 31, and circuit-terminals 32, the latter of which are included in a local visual-signal circuit consisting of a suitable battery or the like 33, an incandescent lamp 3a, and suitable conductors or wires 34:, connecting said terminals, lamp, and battery in a normally open circuit, which is closed through the armature of the relay when the said armature stands attracted by the circuit-closing magnets 23 and contacts both of said terminals 32. The circuit-breaking magnets 31 of the relays are connected in normally open circuits including a suitable battery 35, switches 36, and suitable conductors or wires 37, so that said relays can be convenientlyreset after operation by respective main signal-circuits by simply closing a respective switch.

From the foregoing it will be understood that when a car passes the point at which the stationary terminals or contactfingers 11 stand the collar 12 will wipe over one of said fingers, and electricity will pass from the linecircuit through said fingers respective wire 19 and lamp series and along wire 22 to the circuit-closing magnets of a respective relay 2 1, thence along wire 25 to respective magnets of the time-recorder 26, thence along wire 27 to the alarm-bell, and then to ground over wire 29, thus closing the respective local visual-signal circuit through the armature of the relay, attracting the respective armature of the recorder and sounding the alarm-bell, and when desired to reset the armature of the relay and extinguish the lamp 3a the re spective switch 36 is closed and then opened to leave the said armature free for response to a following impulse of current passing over the respective main signal-circuit.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the recorder 26 includes a pasteboard disk 37, having time subdivisions marked in circular graduations and which is suitably hung so as to be rotated by the clock mechanism 38 to correspond with the rotation of the hour-hand of a clock. Related to this disk are a multiple of electrical marking devices including springretracted armatures 39, which each carry a suitable marking point or stylus 4E0 over the face of the disk, and these armatures are mounted over respective magnets 26, so as to be attracted thereby when the magnets are energized by the current of the main signalcircuits. as heretofore described, and made to apply the stylusesto the disk for marking the time at which the cars pass the stationary terminals or contact-fingers 11.

Fimbodied in this system of signaling are a plurality of time-circuits equal in number to the number of main signal-circuits, and these time-circuits are employed by the despatcher to govern and regulate the movement of the cars, and each includes electrically-operated time-indicators 41, Figs. 3 and 4, one of which is arranged in the despatchers office and one in the field adjacent the road. way at the despatching-point where the stationary terminals of the main signal-circuits are located, and in each of these time-circuits is included a circuit-breaker 42, Figs. 7 and 8, which is preferably operated by suitable master-clock mechanism 43, so that the timeindicators will normally operate in unison with the said mechanism. This circuit-breaker, 1 however, is suitably connected with the master-clock to permit of an advance movement independent of the clock, so that the time-indicators can beset ahead by operating the circuit-breaker manually and will then remain inactive until the masterclock has caught up, when the clock indicators and breaker will again move in unison, as before, thus permitting the despatcher to advance the time-indicators, and thereby give the trainmen the time at which the car is to proceed and also normally keeping the time-indicators up to a standard time.

Each time-indicator 41 includes an ordinary clock-dial 43, a minute-arbor 14, upon which is fixedly mounted the minute-hand, a ratchetwheel 15, having sixty teeth, and a drivingpinion 4C6, and upon this arbor is loosely secured and upon which a gear-wheel 4:7 is fixedly mounted in mesh with an intermediate 1 pinion a8, secured to a shaft 49, having an inmounted a sleeve to which the hour-hand is termediate gear-wheel 50 secured thereon in mesh with the driving-pinion 46. Related to the ratchet 4:5 is a spring-retracted armature 51, having a spring-advanced pawl 52 mounted on one end and adapted to engage with the teeth on the ratchet, and this armature is op erated by means of electromagnets 53, which are connected in the time-circuit, and backlash of the ratchet-wheel is prevented by mounting a check-pawl, as 52, in engagement therewith.

Each of the circuit-breakers 42 includes a plurality of contact points or blocks 5%, preferably five in number, arranged in a circle and connected in a series by a suitable conductor, as a wire 55, and a movable contact point or arm 56, fixedly mounted on a rotatable spindle 57, arranged concentric to said blocks and having a bevel-wheel 58 secured thereon in mesh with a bevel-pinion 59, fixedly mounted on a drive-shaft 60, to which is secured a crank-handle 61, by means of which the despatcher operates the circuit-breaker. This spindle 57 is also operatively related to the master-clock as, as heretofore" stated, and is connected to the minute-arbor, as 62, thereof by a break connection consisting of a spurpinion 63, secured on said spindle, a spur wheel 64, loosely mounted on said arbor in mesh with said pinion and carrying a pin 65, projecting from one side face and normally engaging with a laterally-projecting arm 67, secured to said arbor. Thus it will be seen that the spindle 57 of the circuit-breaker can be rotated by the crank-handle in advance of the minute-arbor of the master-clock and the time-indicators thereby set ahead of said clock, which will continue to operate without moving the circuit-breaker until the arm 67 again reaches the pin 65.

To install the time-circuits, a suitable battery, as 68, for each circuit is located at suitable points, and wires 69 connected with said batteries and with the magnets of respective time-indicators al in the despatchers office, and wires connected with said batteries and with respective time-indicators a1, arranged at the despatching-points. \Vires 71 are then connected with the despatching time-indicators and with the spindles 57 of respective circuit-breakers, and wires 52, connected with the wires 55 of the circuit-breakers and with the magnets of respective ofiice time-indicators.

In installing this signaling system on either a single or double track line for signaling and despatching cars as they pass both in and out the desired multiplicity of con tact-fingers are mounted at each side of the roadway at the point or points from which it is desired to signal, so that the contact-collars on the trolleypoles will act on respective fingers at one side of the line as the cars pass out and on respective fingers at the opposite side as the j I I 1 cars go in, and the fingers at both sides of the l line can be connected with the same time-recorder or a separate recorder provided for each set of lingers, as desired. Furthermore, the lamps of the local signal-circuits can be dilferentiated by different-colored globes or by numbers and the disk of the time-recorder or the marking devices thereof differentiated by colored markings or numbered and the timeindicators likewise difierentiated by numbers or coloring the dials, so that the chances of error in receiving the signals and despatching the cars will be reduced.

From theforegoing it will be understood that the time of arrival of the cars at the despatching or signaling point or points will be recorded on the time-recorder in the despatchers oflice and the particular car made known by the color of the light in the local signalcircuit, when the despatcher can select the corresponding time-indicator and by using the crank-handle connected with the circuitbreaker included in the circuit in which this indicator is connected he can set the proper despatching time-indicator ahead to the time the car is to proceed and the corresponding ofiice time-indicator will show the same time. Thus the trainmen will be given a starting time, and in this manner the despatcher is enabled to fully control the movement of each and every car running on the line, and by using the adjustable signal-circuit terminal on the cars they can be used interchangeably for different runs, as the terminal can be set for contact with any predetermined one of th stationary terminals.

Briefly stated, an operation of this system to signal and despatch acar would occur substantially as follows: Granted that a car closes one of the main signal circuits. The line-current will pass over a respective wire 19 to and through the series of lamps 20, connected therewith, and be thereby reduced in voltage, and the reduced current will pass along the respective wire 22 to the circuit-closing magnets 23 of a respective relay 24: and attract the armature thereof, and thereby close the respective local signal-circuit, when the signallamp 3%, carried thereby, will be lighted. The line-current will pass from the relay over a respective wire 25 to the recorder 26 and energize the magnets 26, to which said wire is connected, and thereby operate the respective armature 39, which will apply the marker 40, carried thereby, to the disk 37, and thereby indicate the time. From the recorder the linecurrent passes over wire 27 to the alarmbell- 28 and thence over wire 29 to ground. l/Vhen the despatcher hears the alarm-bell sound, he notes the color or number of the light 34 en-' ergized and the time indicated on the recorder. He then closes the respective switch 36, and thereby resets the armature of the relay and then again opens said switch. Following this he grasps the handle 61 of a respective circuitbreaker 42 and operates the arm 56, which passes over the contact-blocks 54, making and breaking the circuit through wires 71, 69, and 52, and thereby operating the armature 51 of both of the time-recorders 41 included in this circuit, and consequently setting the hands of the indicators ahead to the time the car signaled is to proceed.

This system of signaling and despatching can be readily understood, while the apparatus required to establish same is simple and inexpensive and can be readily installed in connection with established electrolines without requiring any material alterations in the line-circuit or rolling-stock.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is

1. In a signaling system for electric railways; the combination of the line-circuit, a plurality of normally open main signal-circuits having stationary circuit-terminals arranged in close proximity to the roadway, a time-recorder having a plurality of electrical marking devices connected in said signal-circuits, and circuit-terminals adjustably mounted on the rolling-stock relatively to said stationary terminals and electrically connected with said line-circuit.

2. In a signaling system for electric railways; the combination of the line-circuit, a

.plurality of normally open main signal-circuits having stationary circuit-terminals arranged in close proximity to the roadway, relays connected in said signal-circuits, local signal-circuits connected with said relays in normally open circuits, electrical signal devices connected in said local circuits, and circuit-terminals ad justably mounted on the rolling-stock relatively to said stationary terminals and electrically connected with said linecircuit.

3. In a signaling system for electric railways; the combination of the line-circuit, a plurality of normally open main signal-circuits having stationary terminals arranged in close proximity to the roadway, relays connected in said signal-circuits, a time-recorder having a plurality of electrical marking devices connected in said signal-circuits, local signal-circuits connected with said relays in normally open circuits, signal-lamps connected in said local circuits, and circuit-terminals adjustably mounted on the rolling-stock relatively to said stationary terminals and electrically connected with said line-circuit.

at. In a signaling system for electric railways; the combination of the line-circuit, a plurality of normally open main signal-circuits having stationary terminals arranged in close proximity to the roadway, relays connected in said signal'circuits and having circuit-breaking magnets, relay-resetting circuits connected with said magnets and carrying switches. local signal-eircuits connected with said relays in normally open circuits,

signal-lamps connected in said local circuits, and circuit-terminals adjustably mounted on the rolling-stock relatively to said stationary terminals and electrically connected with said line-circuits.

5. In a signaling system for electric railways; the combination of the line-circuit, a plurality of normally open main signal-circuits having stationary circuit-terminals arranged in close proximity to the roadway, relays connected in said signal-circuits and having circuit-breaking magnets, relay-resetting circuits connected with said magnets and carrying switches, a time-recorder having a plurality of electrical marking devices connected in said main signal-circuits, an audible alarm connected with said main signal-circuits, local signal-circuits connected with said relays in normally open circuits, signal-lamps connected in said local circuits, and circuitterminals adjustably mounted on the rollingstock relatively to said stationary terminals and electrically connected with said line-circuit.

6. In a signaling and despatching system for electric railways; the combination of the line-circuit, a normally open main signal-circuit having a terminal located at a despatching-point and including signaling devices located in the despatchers oflice, means to intermittently connect said terminal with said line-circuit, an electrical time-circuit, and electrical timeindicator connected in said time-circuit at the despatching-point, and a circuit-breaker connected in the time-circuit at said office.

7. In a signaling and despatching system for electric railways; the combination of the line-circuit, a plurality of normally open main signal-circuits having terminals located in close proximity to the roadway at a despatching-point and including signaling devices located in the despatchers office, circuit-terminals adjustably mounted on the rolling-stock relatively to said stationary terminals and electrically connected with said line-circuit, a plurality of time-circuits, electrical time-indicators connected in said time-circuits at the despatching-point, and circuit-breakers eonnected in the time-circuits at said oflice.

8. In a signaling and despatching system for railways; the combination of a main signal-circuit leading from a despatching-point and including signaling devices located in the despatchers ofiicc, a time-circuit, an electrical time-indicator connected in said time-circuit at the despatching-point, a circuit-breaker connected in the timecircuit, a master-clock mechanism, and a break connection between said mechanism and circuit-breaker.

9. In a signaling and despatching system for railways; the combination of a main signal-circuit leading from a despatching-point and including signaling devices located in the despatchers oflice, a time-circuit, electrical time-indicators connected in said time-circuit at the despatching-point and said office, a circuit-breaker connected in the time-circuit, a master-clock mechanism, and a break connection between said mechanism and circuitbreaker.

10. In a signaling and despatching system for electric railways; the combination of the line-circuit, a plurality of normally open main signal-circuits having stationary terminals located in close proximity to the roadway at a despatching-point and including signaling devices located in the despatchers oflice, circuit-termin als ad justably mounted on the roll ing-stock relatively to said stationary terminals and electrically connected with said linecircuit, a plurality of time-circuits, electrical time-indicators connected in said time-circuits at the despatching-point and said oflice, circuit-breakers connected in the time-circuits, master-clock mechanisms, and break connections between said mechanisms and circuitbreakcrs.

11. In a despatching system for railways; the combination of a time-circuit, an electrical time-indicator located at the despatching-point and including time-indicating mechanism, a ratchetwheel operatively connected therewith, an armature, a pawl for said ratchet mounted on said armature, and magnets associated with armature and connected in said circuit, and a circuit-breaker at the despatchers office connected in said circuit.

12. In a despatching system for railways; the combination of atirne-circuit, an electrical time-indicator located at the despatching-point and including pawl-and-ratchet mechanism, an armature operatively associated with said mechanism, and magnets associated with said armature and connected in said circuit, and a circuit-breaker at the despatchers office connected in said circuit and including a rotatabl y-mounted arm, and contact-blocks arranged concentric with the axis of rotation of said arm and connected in a series.

13. In a despatching system for railways; the combination of a time-circuit, an electrical time-indicator located at the despatching-point and including time-indicating mechanism, an armature operatively related to said mechanism, and a magnet associated with said armature and connected in said circuit, a circuitbreaker at the despatchers oifice connected in said circuit and including a rotatablymounted arm, and contact-blocks related to said arm and connected in a series, a crankhandle operatively connected with said arm, master-clock mechanism, and a break connection between said clock mechanism. and arm.

Signed at Seattle, WVashington, this 8th day of August, 1908.

GEO. WV. WATKINS. WVALTER CHAPMAN BETHEL.

WVitnesses:

K. L. BILL NG, ANDREW BLAKIsToNE. 

